Zero-tannin faba bean as a replacement for soybean meal in diets for starter pigs

Abstract

The nutritional value of zero-tannin (ZT) faba bean for starter pigs is poorly characterized. Five mash diets containing 0, 10, 20, 30 or 40% ZT faba bean in substitution for soybean meal were fed to 75 pens of 5-wk-old pigs for 21 d. Increasing the dietary level of ZT faba bean did not affect average daily weight gain, feed intake or feed efficiency (P > 0.05) for each weekly period and the entire study (days 0 to 21). Increasing the dietary level of ZT faba bean linearly increased apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein and P (P < 0.05), but not of dry matter, gross energy and Ca (P > 0.05). In conclusion, young pigs can be fed up to 40% raw, ground ZT faba bean (var. Snowbird) in full substitution for soybean meal in the starter diet.Key words: Digestibility, faba bean, growth performance, soybean meal, starter pig